Hitchhiking robot hitchBOT was destroyed in Philadelphia over the weekend, but while it seemed that the killer might never get caught, footage of the hitchBOT killer has surfaced.
YouTube vlogger Jesse Wellens was the last known person to have handled the traveling robot. Wellens was reportedly able to obtain the security footage showing hitchBOT getting beat up and he posted the video via Snapchat.
While the killer has yet to be identified, the footage purportedly showing the hitchBOT killer may eventually reveal who the slayer is. The video features a man who appears to be wearing the No. 12 jersey of Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Randall Cunningham, according to Fox Sports.
The timecode in the video showing the hitchBOT killer kicking the beloved robot shows the "murder" taking place at 5:46 a.m. on Saturday, August 1. According to The Inquisitr, it's hard to know the motive behind the killing, but it's clear that the hitchBOT killer had anger issues.
hitchBOT is a hitchhiking robot who aims to tour the world. He was reportedly dispatched by scientists from Canada to hitchhike America while relying on the kindness of strangers. With this aim, hitchBOT was able to travel cross-country across Canada, the Netherlands and even Germany.
The Philadelphia vandalism occurred two weeks after hitchBOT started its U.S. trip in Boston. It had already gone to Times Square in New York City before Philadelphia, reported CNN.
In a statement, the team overseeing the robot said:
hitchBOT's trip came to an end last night in Philadelphia after having spent a little over two weeks hitchhiking and visiting sites in Boston, Salem, Gloucester, Marblehead, and New York City," the hitchBOT "family" said on its website. "Unfortunately, hitchBOT was vandalized overnight in Philadelphia; sometimes bad things happen to good robots."
Creator Frauke Zeller said that hitchBOT's "family" felt disappointed with the devastating incident.
"It was quite a setback, and we didn't really expect it," Zeller told CNN Monday. "We were spoiled by the kindness of other people who had looked after hitchBOT."
hitchBOT was reportedly a social experiment partly intending to test human psychology when met with new technology.
The incident with the hitchBOT killer may seem saddening, but the robot's trip is far from over. The team said it was pleased with how people dealt with hitchBOT even before the slaying in Philadelphia.
The team is awaiting the remains of the robot to return from Philadelphia, after which they will decide on their next steps.
In a statement, hitchBOT's family said the world will likely see more of the robot.
"We know that many of hitchBOT's fans will be disappointed, but we want them to be assured that this great experiment is not over," said the group.
The footage below reveals the person behind the "massacre":
Below are several tweet reports of the HitchBOT killing and other experiences of HitchBOT during its travels:
@adamgabbatt @Jessewelle @hitchBOT @GuardianUS here it is from his snapchat pic.twitter.com/RdGxRAZsCC
— nick (@FaZeRainCan720) August 3, 2015
My trip must come to an end for now, but my love for humans will never fade. Thanks friends: https://t.co/DabYmi6OxH pic.twitter.com/sJPVSxeawg — hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) August 1, 2015
#hitchBOT bagged 1st bucket list item! Started #thewave in our box @ Fenway #OnToTheNextOne @hitchBOT #hitchBOTinUSA pic.twitter.com/JzD7Au5PPX
— Hill Holliday (@hillholliday) July 25, 2015
Taking a New York minute to rest my eyes and my circuits. Sometimes, I need a good bot nap. #hitchBOTinUSA pic.twitter.com/8EylTK5qkE — hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) July 28, 2015
